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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



TWO DOZEN 

BY 

CLARA MAI HOWE FUQUA 




BOSTON 

RICHARD G. BADGER 

THE GORHAM PRESS 
I912 



Copyright, 1911, by Clara M. H. Fuqua 



All Rights Reserved 



The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A, 



'm 



©CI.A303485 



DEDICATION 
To my Mother and Father 



CONTENTS 

Page 

Perplexity 9 

Continuance lO 

Growth II 

Value 12 

Mother's Question 13 

When They Go Forth 14 

Gifts 15 

June Clouds 16 

Reflection 17 

Decision 18 

Visions 19 

White Clouds 20 

A Pause 21 

A Prayer 22 

Freedom 23 

A Song 24 

Autumn Leaf 25 

The Robin 26 

5 



CONTENTS 

Page 

At Sunset 27 

Stars 28 

Gratitude 29 

Father 30 

Wherever 31 

Brevity 32 



TWO DOZEN 



PERPLEXITY 

I'm just a little bit of boy, 

The Bible says I'm six. 

I tell you what there're lots of times 

There seems a funny mix 

About the things that people say. 

For instance, when I disobey. 

My mother says so sweet and kind, 

**My little son should always mind." 

But one day I was running fast 
And fell and bumped my head. 
And really you could never guess 
Just what my mother said. 
I ran to her so very quick 
My dreadful bump to bind. 
She said, "I know it hurts my boy, 
But Darling, never mind !" 

With "always mind" and ''never mind" 
Which shall a small boy do? 
I hardly know which way to turn 
And tell me now — ^would you? 



CONTINUANCE 

When the sun is in the sky 
And a song is in the air, 

Of course, I smile and smile 
Because the world is fair. 

When the clouds are hovering low 
And the day is dark and drear, 

Then still I smile and smile 
To spread a bit of cheer. 



10 



GROWTH 

Caressed and fanned by summer breeze, 

Side by side there stood two trees. 
Same soil, same sun their growth supplied, 

Same raindrops watered roots when dried. 

The first tree stood there lank and lean. 

With short, weak limbs, scant leaves of green. 

'Tis true, indeed, that life was there. 
But such poor life, a life so bare. 

The other tree stood by its side 

With limbs stretched high and limbs stretched 
wide. 
With myriad leaves of tender green, 

A thing of beauty to be seen, 
A thing of life, of life profuse. 

For man's delight and nestling's use. 

Upon the plane of earth I'm planted, 

Oh, that to me it may be granted, 
From soil and sun and storm to borrow 

Elements, which each to-morrow 
Suffuse the soul with life redundant. 

Not merely life, but life abundant! 



II 



VALUE 

Have travelled far o'er land and sea 
And viewed with wonder and delight 

The beauty which adorns the world — 
The English field, the Alpine height, 

The storied Rhine and sunny France, 
The Hills of Rome, fair Naples Bay, 

The prairie stretch, Niagara's might. 
The ocean's storm, its sportive play. 

Their beauty, grandeur thrill my soul; 

My heart swells high! God's love it sees, 
For my small life is more to Him 

Than all of these, than all of these! 



12 



MOTHER'S QUESTION 

I love you when you're good, 

I love you v^^hen you're bad, 
I love you w^hen you're gay, 

I love you when you're sad. 

I love you when you're good 

And your goodness makes me glad, 

I love you when you're bad. 

But your badness makes me sad. 

If your goodness makes me glad. 
And your badness makes me sad, 

Now don't you think you ought to. 
My little son and daughter, 

Try never, never to be bad 

But just be good, my lass, my lad? 



13 



WHEN THEY GO FORTH . 

Two beautiful boys, O Father, 
Into my care Thou hast given. 

Two pairs of little feet 

To lead from earth to Heaven. 

But when I face the world 

With all its blight of sin, 
My soul is bowed with anguish, 

My heart is faint within. 

Send forth my pure, sweet lambs. 
To meet the world's sin stain? 

The thought that they must face it 
Fills me with grief and pain. 

And sometimes in my fancy, 

I've almost dared to pray 
That while they still are guileless, 

Thou would'st take them safe away. 

But lo! my Master speaketh 

As he did in prayer or yore; 
"Not out of the world, but from its sin, 

'Tis this thou should'st implore." 

And so I'll send them forth. 
These precious boys of mine, 

Beseeching they'll be led 
By Thy loving hand divine. 



H 



GIFTS 

The Christmas time was drawing near, 

I longed to fill Earth's hearts with cheer; 

To give the child some little toy, 
To bless the poor and sick with joy. 

Alas! my store of gold was small, 
Our daily needs required it all. 

My heart said ''Give;' my purse said "No." 
It grieved me much to think 'twas so. 

And then there spoke a voice to me — 
An angel's voice it seemed to be — 

"O sorrow not, sad Heart," it said. 
No gold but give yourself instead. 

"A tiny line to distant friend 

To tell the loving thought you send; 

"The sick a call, the sad, a prayer 
The child a word of wisdom rare; 

"The tired a smile of sunny cheer; 
The weak a word to help him here; 

"And as you pass along the street, 
A blessing be to all you meet — 

15 



"The Christmas light upon your face — 
'Twill tell its tale of love and grace, 

"Our Christ had never gold to give 
But love and words that help men live, 

"So fill these days of Christmas-tide 
With gifts like His, for they abide." 

I tried and lo: to me it meant 
The richest Christmas ever spent. 

JUNE CLOUDS 

O mother dear, just look and see 
Those soap suds in the sky! 

Are angels washing out their clothes 
Away up there so high? 



i6 



REFLECTION 

Thanksgiving Day again is here, 

But how can I rejoice this year? 
My loss, my cross are both so great. 

It seems I cannot bear their weight. 
But hark! I hear a whisper sweet, 

A message clear with cheer replete: 
"O thou who art weary, lonely, sad, 

Be glad that some one else is glad. 
The joy within his heart so free. 

Somehow, will shed its beams on thee." 



17 



DECISION 

A summer morn, a little bee, 

'Til gather sweets to-day," quoth he. 

A rose bud in the garden grew 
And near it was a lily too. 

Which blossom greater sweetness lent 
The bee could not decide, so went 

From rosebud red to lily fair 

Then back to rose bud smiling there. 

And flitting thus from flower to flower, 
When sunset showed the evening hour, 

Instead of sweets a bounteous store, 
A tiny bit, alas! no more. 

Great swiftness, wisdom, to decide; 
By my decision to abide: 

O grant me these. Thou Heavenly King! 
When Life its twilight hour shall bring, 

May I have gathered through the day, 
Great stores of sweets along the way! 



i8 



VISIONS 

At evening, by the sea there stood 

Three men in deep and pensive mood. 

Musician, artist, poet they — 

Their joy to watch the waves at play. 

Now near them stood another man, 
Who watched the sea with listless scan. 

The waves leaped high, with graceful bound, 
A glorious sight, majestic sound! 

The artist saw a picture there, 
A wondrous scene of beauty rare. 

While he whose soul with music beat 
Heard melody divinely sweet. 

The poet's fancy swift took flight. 
To him each wave was dancing sprite. 

Alas! the man of idle stare 

Saw naught but water, water there. 

O, touch mine eyes. Thou Power Divine ! 
When I behold this world of Thine, 

Not merely "water" may I see, 
But beauty, music, rhythm — Thee! 

19 



WHITE CLOUDS 

O ships of the sky, sail on 
Across your ocean blue! 

Whence come you on your voyage? 
What port have you in view? 

The Hand that guides your course 

Is my sure Pilot too, 
He'll steer my little craft 

Till all my journey's through. 

And when He says at last 
My sailing days are o'er, 

He'll anchor safe my barque 
By Heaven's smiling shore. 



20 



A PAUSE 

Oh, bid my soul stand still each day 

To hear Thy loving voice 
Tell how to help the weak grow strong, 

The saddened to rejoice. 



21 



A PRAYER 

Any good that I may do 

In this world I journey through, 
Grant it, God, abundant harvest. 

Tiny seed sown in the field, 

Multiply, rich harvests yield, 
Grant my good such ample harvest. 

Birds that hither, thither fly. 

Scatter seed as they wing by, 
Seed that grow unto a harvest. 

May thy Spirit take my deeds, 

Scatter them where man most needs, 
Grant to each abundant harvest! 



22 



FREEDOM 

The many things we do, 

The many leave undone, 
Because of what will say 

Or this or that someone! 
O soul of mine, stand free, 

Unbind thy shackles now. 
'Tis not — "what people say," 

But — "Master, what say'st Thou?" 



23 



A SONG 

From Faith I've learned a wondrous song 
I love to sing the whole day long, 
This: 
"As a little child, I believe." 

I cannot understand how He, 

My Christ, came down and died for me. 
But, 
"As a little child, I believe." 

I do not have to understand. 

But just believe this truth so grand, 
And, 
As a little child, I believe. 

There oft are times I cannot see 
How ills of life can blessings be, 
But, 
As a little child, I believe. 

My Father knows what's best for me. 

He'll guide me safe o'er life's rough sea. 
This, 
As a little child, I believe. 

I thank thee. Faith, this gladsome song, 
It brings me joy the whole day long. 
Yes, 
As a little child, I believe. 



AUTUMN LEAF 

O autumn leaf of matchless hue, 
As I grow old, may I like you, 

New beauty rare unfold — 

New grace of soul, of mind, of heart! 

When from the Tree of Life I part, 
Rich tints may God behold! 



25 



THE ROBIN 

Of all the birds from east to west, 

I love the little robin best — 
The bird that sings in the rain. 

He does not wait for sunny days 

To sing his happy songs of praise — 
He sings his songs in the rain. 

O little feathered friend, like thee, 

When dark days come and shadow me, 
May I still sing in the rain! 

Perhaps some sad, some listening ear. 

May catch from me a note of cheer, 
If I but sing in the rain. 



26 



AT SUNSET 

At ev'ni'ng by the sea I sat, 

And watched the sun which sank to rest. 
It changed to purest gold the waves, 

And filled with glory all the West. 

Still lower, lower did it sink, 

Until it soon was lost to sight, 
When lo! o'er all the sky there seemed to stretch 

Five rays of golden light. 

Distinct and clear was each of these. 

And looked like fingers of a hand 
Uplifted there o'er all the world. 

O'er all who dwell on sea or land. 

And then there came to me this thought 

Which brought me joy and peace complete — 

Why, that's the hand of God held out 
In ev'ning benediction sweet. 



27 



STARS 

Little stars so bright and staid, 

What are you? Tell me! Won't you? L^)! 
"Why we're the holes the angels made 

To let the air of heaven through." 



28 



GRATITUDE 

For richest blessings freely sent, 

For daily grace from Heaven lent, 
I'll tell my gratitude. 

For joy of heart and peace of mind. 

For all that's sweet and pure and kind 
I'll sing my gratitude. 

For love of God and love of man. 

For Nature's beauty, Heaven's plan, 
I'll rhyme my gratitude. 

But more than tale or song or rhyme, 
I'll strive to make my thanks sublime, 
I'll live my gratitude. 



29 



FATHER 

We call Him Lord, Creator, King, 

But these the words which comfort bring — 
"My Father." 

They bring me calm and sweet repose. 
My every need He truly knows, 
My Father. 

When ''Father, help Thy child," I cry, 
An answer comes, a sure reply. 
My Father. 

No other name brings Him so near 

Nor gives such solace, strength and cheer, 
My Father. 



30 



WHEREVER 

When Easter morn, the Marys came 

To seek their Master dear, 
With joy they heard the angel's word 

Which brought them hope and cheer: 
''Behold, he goeth before you into Galilee.' 

When some new path I soon must tread, 

Some trial I must meet, 
Bring thoughts of fear, 'tis then I hear 

My Saviour's voice most sweet: 
"Behold, I go before you into Galilee." 

I will not fear for future days, 

I'll trust them to His care, 
For this I know — where'er I go, 

I'll find Him waiting there. 
Behold, He goeth before me into Galilee. 



31 



BREVITY 

The time is short for smile and tear. 

A h'ttle while we linger here 
Amid the sunshine and the shade — 

So short the time the journey's made. 

So short the time of joy's delight, 
So short tlie time of sorrow's night, 

So short the time of pain's distress, 
So short the time that trials press. 

So short the time for deeds of love 
And words that help to guide above, 

So short the time to learn and teach 
The lessons Life would have of each. 

The time is short! Oh, listen well! 

Fill up the days with deeds that swell 
The joy of man, the peace of earth, 

With patience, hope and thoughts of worth. 

Bestir thy soul and leave thy gloom ! 

In Life's small space give naught of room 
For selfish dreams, whate'er their sort. 

The time is short! The time is short! 



32 



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